A Bradford-based scheme providing training and employment opportunities for people with learning disabilities has opened a new cafe in the city centre.
FoodWorks celebrated the opening of its café, at the Kala Sangam centre at St Peter’s House, Forster Square, with a family fun event.
Part of Yorkshire Housing’s SupportWorks, Foodworks offers structured training for people with learning disabilities at its dedicated training kitchen.
The café, which replaces the former Daisies Cafe, will be open daily, offering a range of food, and is also available as a venue for private events, with bespoke menus available.
It is hoped that the cafe project will be the start of a partnership between the three social enterprises; Foodworks, Kala Sangam and Yorkshire Housing.
FoodWorks catering services manager Kerrie-Lee Barr said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Kala Sangam. The café will offer our trainees lots of new opportunities to develop their food service skills.
“We provide real-world catering experience for trainees while providing wholesome, good value food to customers.”
Chief executive of Yorkshire Housing, Mervyn Jones, said: “The new café is the next step in FoodWorks journey towards becoming one of Yorkshire’s premier social enterprises. It offers high quality placements to adults with learning disabilities and employs seven members of staff with a learning disability. The business makes a real contribution to society while at the same time offering high quality catering.”
The launch event, attended by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain, featured the launch of Kala Sangam’s new season and a children’s storytelling session hosted by Gemma Hunt, star of CBeebie’s Swashbuckle.
SupportWorks provides a range of services and opportunities for people with learning disabilities, including housing-based support, training opportunities, employment and community inclusion.